"Vox Humana" wrote in message
...

"madgardener" wrote in message
...

Russian sage likes it hot, and dry. In poor soil. Did you loosen the
rootball before you planted it? And what is growing near it? In fact,
most
perennials like it in poor soil. The most beautiful and healthy and
upright
flowers are found along side the highway in the gravel and scree........
madgardener


Why do you suppose that nearly every bit of information I see about
perennials has the following advise:
"Plant in rich, well drained soil. Amend soil with plenty of compost."


well, compost probably yes, topdressing. But every perennial I have planted
into new beds with rich, well drained soil laid down first and then
struggled to become more upright. Once the soil leeched thru rains and
snows, the perennials that were upright actually stood up. I have seen
awesome gardens with beautiful flowers in some of the worst conditions.

This house where I live had feverfew, blue Myst or blue Eupatoria flowers,
sedums (old fashioned green ones) and an unusual yellow colored one and
asters growing along the sidewalk and Joyce had had cancer and was dying of
it for well over two years so her flowers were neglected.

As soon as I moved into the house and lifted the plants and dug the soil
with my tiller and added worm compost, replanted the perennials I discovered
there, the blue Eupatoria or perennial ageratum all but vanished. I think it
finally has gone from the beds. The sedums went nuts and grow every year
since then (that was 9 years ago) at least 5 foot tall when before they were
only two or three foot tall. The asters dissolved. And the feverfew flew
the coop.

All I know is, the flowers I see along the roadsides are upright, healthy,
full of flowers and growing in gravelly, poor soil. Even the chicory is
lush and covered with flowers. And now the black-eyed Susans are popping up
everywhere and they're awesome............so go figure.

There are SOME perennials that like it rich. Sedums(some), blooming bushes,
hosta's, bulbs, daylilies,apparently Soladago does, and so does purple
Loosestrife and Gooseneck loosestrife, and ground covers.......but the rest
of them, the composites and sages and bee balm and such grow prone in rich
soil. I can't tell you the plants I've lost due to rich soils.........but
then, it could just be ME.............
madgardener